Nursing (Mental Health) PgDip

On this mental health nursing course you will learn how to assess, plan, promote and support a person’s recovery, facilitating their involvement and enhancing their level of control (recovery focused approach). Importantly, you will also learn how to support client’s physical health needs.

You will learn how to deliver care to the new standards set by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). The aim is to equip you with the clinical skills and evidence-based knowledge you need to face the challenges of modern mental health nursing.

This postgraduate mental health nursing course has been developed with input from students, service users and our partners in the NHS and voluntary and independent sectors. Your studies will help you to gain the skills and experience you need to start your nursing career on graduation. 

You will learn how to:

• provide, lead and coordinate care that is compassionate and evidence-based
• care for people with complex mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural care needs
• care for people in healthcare settings including their own home, in the community and in hospital
• help promote health, protect health and prevent ill health
• empower people, communities and populations to take control of their own health decisions and behaviours
• care for people of different ages, backgrounds, cultures and beliefs
• care for people at the end of their life
• work across health- and social care services 
• play a proactive role in multidisciplinary teams
• think critically and apply your knowledge and skills
• be emotionally intelligent and resilient, while managing your personal health and wellbeing

Practice learning

You will spend a significant amount of time in practice where you will be appropriately supported and assessed. This will include learning to care for people in hospitals, in their own homes or within a community setting. As you will be working with people who require care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can expect to work days, weekends, bank holidays and night shifts. You will not receive payment for your practice learning.

Each year your course will divided into blocks:

• Theory  - this will include: induction, taught time, independent learning, assessment support and scheduled Personal Tutor meetings)
• Practice  - this will include preparation for practice weeks and placement learning)
• Annual leave - these are set for the duration of the course and cannot be changed

Facilities and support

We will provide a supportive learning environment to help you gain confidence as you develop your skills. You will learn using high-tech, innovative resources – including a fully equipped simulation centre – that help make your classes fun and engaging. In addition, you will have:

• teaching staff who are highly committed and specialists in their subjects.
• a personal tutor to guide you through your course as well as access to the University’s mentoring service.
• regular personalised feedback on your progress in theory and practice components
• access to a variety of practice placements, thanks to our many partners

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring people with a disability are provided with equal access to their chosen course of study and facilities at the University of West London. Appropriate support can be provided to remove barriers faced in education because of a person’s disability. This is support is called “reasonable adjustments”. 

We strongly encourage applicants to disclose their disability and discuss support requirements at the earliest opportunity by contacting our Wellbeing Team: online via the Student Hub or by email - wellbeing@uwl.ac.uk alternatively telephone 020 8231 2739. Early disclosure enables the University time to consider the individual support requirements that you may have and to identify whether reasonable adjustments can be made to help you with your studies prior to the start of the course. Some reasonable adjustments may not be possible in a placement setting due to professional standards and core competencies of the role so it is imperative these are considered prior to starting the course. 

It is important to understand that successful progression on this course is dependent on professional standards being met. By disclosing to the University, where reasonable adjustments can be made, the University will provide you with the support you need to meet these standards. See standards of proficiency for registered nurses to explore the standards appropriate to your chosen course.

Placement partners

Your placement is an essential part of your course and will take up an equal amount of time as your classroom studies at the University. It will give you practical experience so that you can apply what you learn in a real-world setting. 

We currently partner with the following healthcare organisations in Berkshire for the PgDip Mental Health Nursing:

• Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Private, voluntary and independent organisations.